International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE)
Vol 15, No 1: February 2026

Validating a critical thinking scale: an essential skill for vocational education students in the era of artificial intelligence

María Olmedo-Moreno, Eva (Unknown)
Javier Romero-Díaz de la Guardia, José (Unknown)
Expósito-López, Jorge (Unknown)
Chacón-Cuberos, Ramón (Unknown)
Parejo-Jiménez, Noelia (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Feb 2026

Abstract

Critical thinking is a fundamental competence in education and professional training, particularly in a technology-driven era increasingly shaped by generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). To address the need for contextually relevant assessment tools, this study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the critical thinking disposition scale (CTDS) among vocational training (VT) students. A descriptive, exploratory, and cross-sectional design was applied using quantitative methods. Data was collected from 879 students enrolled in VT programs. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine the scale’s factorial structure, reliability, and construct validity. Results supported an 11-item structure comprising two dimensions—executive function and reflective thinking—with satisfactory psychometric properties (KMO=0.817; CFI=0.883; TLI=0.851; RMSEA=0.0672; SRMR=0.0428). The findings confirm that the CTDS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing critical thinking dispositions in vocational education. This tool provides educators and researchers with a robust means to evaluate critical thinking, a key competence for learning, personal development, and professional preparedness in the age of GenAI. This is the first validation of the CTDS with VT students in Spain.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

IJERE

Publisher

Subject

Education

Description

The International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE) is an interdisciplinary publication of original research and writing on education which publishes papers to international audiences of educational researchers. The IJERE aims to provide a forum for scholarly understanding of ...